Council pauses Go Net Speed permits after detailed buildout, equity and plan questions

The Springfield City Council on Sept. 15 voted to continue consideration of 27 Go Net Speed petitions after more than two hours of public testimony, technical questions and requests for a written commitment on citywide service. John Dullahan, a representative of Go Net Speed, told the council the company already serves customers in Springfield and that approval of the petitions would release roughly 10,000 "passings" (addresses where service could be activated) to the company if make-ready work on utility poles is resolved.

The council majority said they wanted clearer written commitments and more precise engineering plans before granting blanket approvals. "I don't wanna vote on anything unless you're making a commitment to build out the whole city," said Councilor Delgado, citing the city's digital equity work. Councilor Curran moved to continue the matter; Councilor Whitfield seconded and the motion carried. The item was continued to Oct. 6.

Why it matters: Go Net Speed's buildout would add new fiber competition to incumbent providers and could change broadband availability and prices citywide. Councilors pressed the company for a binding commitment to serve lower-income neighborhoods, for engineering detail about underground trenching and pole make-ready, and for clarification about programs for discounted service.

What councilors and city staff asked for - Written commitment or agreement: multiple councilors requested a written plan or agreement from Go Net Speed that commits the company to build citywide, or at least defines a phased build with enforceable milestones. - Precision in engineering plans: Councilor Fenton and others asked for surveyed, site-specific plans rather than boilerplate drawings; Councilor Fenton said the submitted plans lacked the precision typically recorded for utility easements. - Digital equity and affordability: Councilors Delgado, Whitfield and others pressed for concrete programs (discounted rates, Lifeline/ACP participation, outreach) that guarantee access in neighborhoods with lower incomes. Go Net Speed said it participates in income-based programs such as Lifeline and had run previous federal ACP promotions but offered no new written affordability guarantee at the meeting. - Rights-of-way and tree belts: Company representatives and DPW staff said much work would be aerial but that some segments required underground conduit in the tree belt; questions included conduit depth (company witnesses gave 24 inches as a design depth and plans also referenced 9-inch notes), reseeding/tree root protection and the use of handholes and tracer wire.

Company and city positions - John Dullahan, Go Net Speed, said the company has thousands of active customers in the region and that the petitions would permit the company to "release" service to tens of thousands of passings as make-ready work is completed. "We are committed to a build out the entire city," he said, while acknowledging the company had not provided a signed city-wide build agreement. - Hector (DPW staff) described coordination steps with the DPW and said petitions will be evaluated site-by-site for permit issuance; he said much of the initial work is in areas where make-ready is simpler.

Formal action - Motion: Continue consideration of Go Net Speed petitions to Oct. 6. - Mover: Councilor Curran. Second: Councilor Whitfield. Outcome: Motion passed; matter continued to Oct. 6.

Context and next steps - Councilors asked Go Net Speed to return with clearer, surveyed plans; details on conduit size and depth; a proposal for an affordability program; and an explanation of whether easements rather than mere permits would be required for work in municipal tree belts. - Councilors also requested follow-up on the potential fiscal impact to the city's cable franchise receipts (used to fund Focus Springfield) if cable subscribers migrate from legacy video providers to fiber internet providers.

Quotes - "I don't wanna vote on anything unless you're making a commitment to build out the whole city," Councilor Delgado said. - "We are committed to a build out the entire city," John Dullahan said.

Ending The council did not approve the petitions at the Sept. 15 meeting. The matter was continued so Go Net Speed can respond to questions about binding commitments, detailed engineering drawings and digital-equity protections before the council votes.